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perjury

lying under oath
[U] Uncountable

This term carries a heavy legal weight and a strong moral stigma, specifically tied to the betrayal of a sworn oath. It is not used for general lying or deception in social settings, but is strictly reserved for formal legal proceedings where a person has been legally bound to tell the truth. The connotation is one of calculated dishonesty and a direct assault on the integrity of the judicial system.

Grammatically, this noun is uncountable. You cannot refer to a single instance as a perjury; instead, you must use partitive constructions such as an act of perjury or a count of perjury when referring to specific occurrences in a legal case.

Used as a legal concept or a crime, such as stating that perjury is a felony.

Meanings

Nounlying under oath

The offense of willfully telling an untruth in a court after having taken an oath.

The witness was charged with perjury after his testimony contradicted the video evidence.

Related Words

Last Updated: June 8, 2026Report an Error